Hinge

ABSTRACT

A hinge mounted between a cover and a base of a notebook has a base bracket having a mounting hole, a cover bracket having a stationary hole, a limiting spacer and a pintle. The limiting spacer is mounted securely on one side of the base bracket and has a mounting hole and a limiting flange. The pintle has a proximal end mounted securely in the stationary hole of the cover bracket, a distal end mounted rotatably through the mounting hole of the limiting spacer and the mounting hole of the base bracket, and a head formed near the proximal end. The head has a limiting protrusion selectively abutting a front end or a rear end of the limiting flange to keep the cover of the notebook in position when the cover being closed or opened and to prevent the base bracket from resulting stress concentration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hinge, and more particularly to a hinge mounted in a notebook.

2. Description of the Related Art

A notebook has a cover and a base, and a screen is mounted on the cover. A hinge is mounted between the cover and the base and pivots to open or close the cover.

With reference to FIGS. 9-10, a conventional hinge in accordance with the prior art is mounted between a cover and a base of a notebook and comprises a base bracket (50), a cover bracket (80), a limiting spacer (70), a pintle (60) and anut(63).

The base bracket (50) is attached to the base of the notebook and has a mounting hole (51), a front edge, a rear edge, a front limiting recess (52) and a rear limiting recess (53). The front and rear limiting recesses (52)(53) are defined respectively in the front and rear edges of the base bracket (50).

The cover bracket (80) is attached to the cover of the notebook and has a lower portion and a stationary hole (81) defined in the lower portion.

The limiting spacer (70) is mounted between the cover bracket (80) and the base bracket (50) and has a mounting hole (71) and a limiting flange (72). The mounting hole (71) is non-circular. The limiting flange (72) is curved and selectively abuts the front limiting recess (52) or the rear limiting recess (53) of the base bracket (50). With further reference to FIG. 11, when the cover of the notebook is pivoted to close, the limiting flange (72) abuts the front limiting recess (52) of the base bracket (50) to prevent the cover from hitting the base of the notebook. With further reference to FIG. 12, when the cover is opened completely, the limiting flange (72) abuts the rear limiting recess (53) of the base bracket (50) to hold the cover in a visual angle.

The pintle (60) is mounted securely in the limiting spacer (70) and the cover bracket (80) and has a non-circular cross-section corresponding to the mounting hole (71) of the limiting spacer (70), a distal end (63) and a proximal end (62). The distal end (63) has an outer thread defined thereon, extends through the mounting hole (71) of the limiting spacer (70) and the mounting hole (51) of the base bracket (50) in turn, and is rotatable relative to the base bracket (50). The proximal end (62) is mounted securely in the stationary hole (81) of the cover bracket (80).

The nut (63) is mounted around the distal end (63) of the pintle (60) and screws onto the outer thread of the distal end (63) to hold the limiting spacer (70) between the base bracket (50) and the pintle (60).

The conventional hinge can hold the cover in an appropriate position when the cover is opened and prevent the cover from hitting the base of the notebook when the cover is closed. However, opening and closing the cover of the notebook is so frequent that the stress concentration is easy to result near the front and rear limiting recess (52)(53) of the base bracket (50) and results in fractures of the base bracket (50) after the notebook is used for a period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hinge to overcome the problem that the stress concentration occurred by the base bracket of the conventional hinge and results in fractures of the base bracket.

The hinge in accordance with the present invention is mounted between a base and a cover of a notebook and has a base bracket, a cover bracket, a limiting spacer, a pintle and a nut.

The base bracket is mounted in the base of the notebook and has a mounting hole and a side.

The cover bracket is mounted in the cover of the notebook and has a stationary hole.

The limiting spacer is mounted securely on the side of the base bracket and has a top, a mounting hole corresponding to the mounting hole of the base bracket, and a limiting flange formed on and protruding from the top. The limiting flange has a front end and a rear end.

The pintle is mounted between the limiting spacer and the cover bracket and has a proximal end, a distal end and a head. The proximal end is mounted securely in the stationary hole of the cover bracket. The distal end is mounted rotatably through the mounting hole of the limiting spacer and the mounting hole of the base bracket and has an outer thread defined around the distal end. The head is formed between the proximal end and the distal end and has an annular edge and a limiting protrusion. The limiting protrusion is formed on and protrudes from the annular edge of the head of the pintle and selectively abuts the front end or the rear of the limiting flange of the limiting spacer. The limiting protrusion abuts the front end of the limiting flange to hold the cover of the notebook on a visual angle when the cover is opened, or abuts the rear end of the limiting flange to prevent the cover from hitting the base of the notebook when the cover is closed.

The nut is screwed onto the outer thread of the distal end of the pintle to fasten the limiting spacer between the base bracket and the pintle.

The base bracket does not be abutted by the limiting protrusion of the pintle when opening or closing the cover of the notebook, such that the stress concentration does not occur in the base bracket to fracture the base bracket. Thus, the lifetime of the hinge is prolonged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a hinge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an operational side view of the hinge in FIG. 1 with a cover bracket of the hinge being pivoted to close;

FIG. 4 is an operational side view of the hinge in FIG. 1 with the cover bracket of the hinge being lifted up;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the hinge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an operational side view of the hinge in FIG. 5 with a cover bracket of the hinge being pivoted to open;

FIG. 8 is an operational side view of the hinge in FIG. 5 with the cover bracket of the hinge being lifted up;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional hinge in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional hinge in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an operational side view of the conventional hinge in FIG. 9 with a cover bracket of the conventional hinge being pivoted open; and

FIG. 12 is an operational side view of the conventional hinge in FIG. 9 with the cover bracket of the conventional hinge being lifted up.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A notebook has a cover, a base and a hinge. The hinge is mounted between the cover and the base and pivots to open or close the cover.

With reference to FIGS. 1-2 and 5-6, a hinge in accordance with the present invention comprises a base bracket (10,10A), a cover bracket (40), a limiting spacer (20, 20A), a pintle (30) and a nut (32).

The base bracket (10, 10A) is attached to the base of the notebook and has a mounting hole (11), a side and an optional positioning hole (12, 13). The mounting hole (11) is formed through the base bracket (10, 10A). The positioning hole (12, 13) is defined through the base bracket (10, 10A) and may communicate with the mounting hole (11). In a first embodiment, the positioning hole (12) is located below the mounting hole (11) of the base bracket (10) and does not communicate with the mounting hole (11). In a second embodiment, the positioning hole (13) communicates with the mounting hole (11) of the base bracket (10A) and extends downward.

The cover bracket (40) is attached to the cover of the notebook and has a stationary hole (41). The stationary hole (41) is formed through the cover bracket (40) and may be non-circular.

The limiting spacer (20, 20A) is mounted securely on the side of the base bracket (10), has a top, a mounting hole (21), and a limiting flange (22) and may have a riveting hole (23) and a rivet (24) or a positioning protrusion (25). The mounting hole (21) is formed through the limiting spacer (20,20A) and corresponds to the mounting hole (11) of the base bracket (10). The limiting flange (22) is formed on and protrudes axially from the top of the limiting spacer (20, 20A), has a front end and a rear end, and may be curved. The riveting hole (23) is formed through the limiting spacer (20) and corresponds to the positioning hole (12) of the base bracket (10). The rivet (24) is mounted through the positioning hole (12) and the riveting hole (23) to mount the limiting spacer (20) securely on the base bracket (10). The positioning protrusion (25) is formed on and extends from the limiting spacer (20A) and is inserted into the positioning hole (13) of the base bracket (10A) to mount the limiting spacer (20A) securely on the base bracket (10A).

The pintle (30) extends through the limiting spacer (20, 20A), the base bracket (10, 10A) and the cover bracket (40) and has a proximal end (35), a distal end (31) and a head (33). The proximal end (35) of the pintle (30) is mounted securely in the stationary hole (41) of the cover bracket (40) and may be non-circular and correspond to the stationary hole (41) to mount the pintle (30) securely in the stationary hole (41). The distal end (31) is mounted rotatably through the mounting hole (21) of the limiting spacer (20, 20A) and the mounting hole (11) of the base bracket (10, 10A) and has an outer thread defined around the distal end (31) of the pintle (30). The head (33) is formed near the proximal end (35) of the pintle (30) and has an annular edge and a limiting protrusion (34). The limiting protrusion (34) is formed on and protrudes from the annular edge of the head (33), selectively abuts the front end and the rear end of the limiting flange (22) of the limiting spacer (20, 20A) and may be curved.

With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, when the cover of the notebook is pivoted to close, the limiting protrusion (34) abuts the rear end of the limiting flange (22) of the limiting spacer (20, 20A) to prevent the cover from hitting the base of the notebook. With further reference to FIG. 4 and 8, when the cover is opened completely, the limiting protrusion (34) abuts the front end of the limiting flange (22) of the limiting spacer (20, 20A) to hold the cover in a visual angle.

The nut (32) is mounted around the distal end (31) of the pintle (30) and screws onto the outer thread of the distal end (31) to hold the limiting spacer (20, 20A) between the base bracket (10, 10A) and the pintle (30).

The limiting protrusion (34) of the pintle (30) abuts the limiting flange (22) of the limiting spacer (20, 20A) to keep the cover of the notebook in position and prevent the cover from hitting the base of the notebook. Thus, the base bracket (10, 10A) can avoid stress concentration and fractures from occurring and prolong the lifetime of the hinge.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A hinge adapted for a notebook comprising: a base bracket having a mounting hole formed through the base bracket; and a side; a cover bracket having a stationary hole formed through the cover bracket; a limiting spacer mounted securely on the side of the base bracket and having a top; a mounting hole formed through the limiting spacer and corresponding to the mounting hole of the base bracket; and a limiting flange formed on and protruding axially from the top of the limiting spacer and having a front end; and a rear end; a pintle extending through the limiting spacer, the base bracket and the cover bracket and having a proximal end mounted securely in the stationary hole of the cover bracket; a distal end mounted rotatably through the mounting hole of the limiting spacer and the mounting hole of the base bracket and having an outer thread defined around the distal end of the pintle; and a head formed near the proximal end of the pintle and having an annular edge; and a limiting protrusion formed on and protruding from the annular edge of the head of the pintle and selectively abutting the front end and the rear end of the limiting flange of the limiting spacer; and a nut mounted around the distal end of the pintle and screwing onto the outer thread of the distal end.
 2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limiting flange of the limiting spacer is curved.
 3. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the limiting protrusion of the head of pintle is curved.
 4. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base bracket further has a positioning hole defined through the base bracket and located below the mounting hole of the base bracket; and the limiting spacer further has a riveting hole formed through the limiting spacer and corresponding to the positioning hole of the base bracket; and a rivet mounted through the positioning hole of the base bracket and the riveting hole of the limiting spacer.
 5. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base bracket further has a positioning hole defined through the base bracket and located below the mounting hole of the base bracket; and the limiting spacer further has a riveting hole formed through the limiting spacer and corresponding to the positioning hole of the base bracket; and a rivet mounted through the positioning hole of the base bracket and the riveting hole of the limiting spacer.
 6. The hinge as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base bracket further has a positioning hole defined through the base bracket and located below the mounting hole of the base bracket; and the limiting spacer further has a riveting hole formed through the limiting spacer and corresponding to the positioning hole of the base bracket; and a rivet mounted through the positioning hole of the base bracket and the riveting hole of the limiting spacer.
 7. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base bracket further has a positioning hole defined through the base bracket, located below and communicating with the mounting hole of the base bracket; and the limiting spacer further has a positioning protrusion formed on and extending from the limiting spacer and inserting into the positioning hole of the base bracket.
 8. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base bracket further has a positioning hole defined through the base bracket, located below and communicating with the mounting hole of the base bracket; and the limiting spacer further has a positioning protrusion formed on and extending from the limiting spacer and inserting into the positioning hole of the base bracket.
 9. The hinge as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base bracket further has a positioning hole defined through the base bracket, located below and communicating with the mounting hole of the base bracket; and the limiting spacer further has a positioning protrusion formed on and extending from the limiting spacer and inserting into the positioning hole of the base bracket.
 10. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stationary hole of the cover bracket is non-circular; and the proximal end of the pintle is non-circular and corresponds to the stationary hole of the cover bracket. 